ANOTHER bank in Wimborne has announced it will close its doors permanently in the new year.

TSB confirmed its branch in the Square would close on April 13, one of 70 closures nationwide.

It said it has seen a significant decrease in branch use, with the average number of transactions per branch falling since January 2019 and no prospect of branch transactions returning to pre-Covid levels.

Two years ago, TSB set out its intention to reduce its branch network and invest in digital services, as part of its strategy to meet the future needs of customers, but the Covid-19 pandemic has further accelerated the shift away from branch services, with customers shopping and doing more online.

More than 90 per cent of customer transactions are now carried out digitally and video banking accounts for more than 90 per cent of mortgage appointments.

TSB’s chief customer officer Robin Bulloch said: “Closing branches is an incredibly difficult decision to take, but we have to respond to the changes in the way people bank and provide the right mix of services for all our customers now and into the future.

“These changes allow us to maintain an extensive branch presence across the country. They are accompanied by a significant investment programme to upgrade branches to better suit customer needs. And, where it takes longer to get to the nearest branch, we will introduce more ‘pop-up’ services in communities.”

Earlier this month, NatWest confirmed it would also be closing its Wimborne branch in 2022.